Environmental Health

Philadelphia bill would ban city from contracting with Reworld incinerator

A bill introduced in Philadelphia City Council Sept. 18 would prohibit the city from contracting with companies that incinerate its trash and recyclables. Currently about one-third of Philadelphia’s waste is sent to the Reworld (formerly Covanta) incinerator in Chester. Most of Delaware County’s municipal waste is also burned in the incinerator.

Electric customers to pay $70 million a year to keep Eddystone power plant open

The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission is involved in a process to allow electric grid operator PJM to charge its ratepayers across 13 states an estimated $70 million a year to keep the Eddystone oil-and-gas power plant operating. The DOE ordered the plant, on the brink of retirement, to keep running for two three-month periods this summer and fall and it is unclear whether the order will be made permanent. The Trump Administration plans to order Forty coal plants across the country to keep operating as well.

Lobby Day in Harrisburg Sept. 29 more important than ever

Join PennFuture and Conservation Voters of Pennsylvania in an environment lobby day Sept. 29 at the capitol in Harrisburg. With the federal government clawing back,funding and cancelling clean energy programs, we have to depend on state government more than ever. Anyone can join. Fill out the registration form at bottom.

Chester Lead-Free Task Force to test preschoolers for lead exposure this fall

The Chester Lead-Free Task Force is gearing up to offer lead testing at about 20 daycare centers throughout the city this fall.  Working in conjunction with the Delaware County Health Department, the Task Force is focused on testing preschoolers generally children age 3 and younger) who were not born when the Delaware County Health Department conducted an extensive testing campaign in 2021 and 2022.

Public has until Sept. 2 to comment on DOE report finding increased CO2 is ‘greening the planet’

The U.S. Department of Energy is seeking public comment on its 151-page draft report finding that increased concentrations of CO2 emissions will contribute to the “greening of the planet” and make the oceans more acidic, but it is uncertain what negative affects, such as extreme weather and destruction of coral reefs, will have in coming decades. Read the Federal register announcement, the report and the critical comments of several climate scientists below.

Listen to NPR podcast with author of Johns Hopkins study of Chester air pollution

A study conducted by a group of Johns Hopkins researchers along the Delaware River industrial corridor found that “fence line” residents are at higher risk for multiple health problems because of the toxic mix of air they breathe. Lead author Dr. Keeve Nachman joined NPR Living on Earth Host Paloma Beltran to walk through the study. At right is the mobile testing van the researchers used. Listen to the podcast and read the transcript here.

Let’s Go to Harrisburg Sept. 29 for Environment Lobby Day

Join PennFuture and Conservation Voters of Pennsylvania in an environment lobby day Sept. 29 at the capitol in Harrisburg. With the federal government clawing back,funding and cancelling clean energy programs, we have to depend on state government more than ever. Anyone can join. Fill out the registration form at bottom.

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